Appendix E
Four Mile Fire Protection District
Collaborative Effort
The Need for a CWPP
In response to the Healthy Forest Restoration Act (HFRA) and in an effort to create
incentives, Congress directed interface communities to prepare a Community Wildfire
Protection Plan (CWPP). Once completed, a CWPP provides statutory incentives for the US
Forest Service (USFS) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to consider the priorities
of local communities as they develop and implement forest management and hazardous fuel
reduction projects. In the case of the Four Mile Fire Protection District (FMFPD), the need
for a community-based hazard and risk assessment (HRA) was born from an internal need,
not a federal directive. The district does border federal land; however, and a CWPP became
desirable after the HFRA initiative.
CWPPs can take a variety of forms, based on the needs of the people involved in their
development. CWPPs may address issues such as wildfire response, hazard mitigation,
community preparedness, structure protection or all of the above.
The minimum requirements for a CWPP are:
Collaboration between local and state government representatives, in consultation
with federal agencies and other interested parties.
Prioritized fuel reduction in identified areas as well as recommendations for the type
and methods of treatments
Recommendations and treatment measures for homeowners and communities to
reduce the ignitability of those structures in the project area.
Project Funding and Coordination
The FMFPD utilized internal budgets in combination with a Western States Fire Mitigation
grant to complete a district-wide hazard and risk assessment and the resultant CWPP.
Methodology with a core of fire behavior science ensures an accurate hazard and risk
assessment. Community education and private landowner assistance will be coordinated
through the FMFPD. The FMFPD will continue to be instrumental in public education
related to wildfire hazard reduction.
The District will continue to identify funding for the implementation of mitigation projects.
A FMFPD representative will coordinate all community-wide mitigation projects.
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Homeowner cooperation and permission for projects on private land is more likely if there is
a fire district representative overseeing the details in partnership with the Colorado State
Forest Service (CSFS) representative. This would also allow cross boundary projects to be
more effectively implemented.
Inter-Agency Collaboration
Roles and Responsibilities
To be successful, community mitigation must be a community-based, collaborative effort.
Stakeholders and primarily the FMFPD will have the greatest responsibility for
implementing the recommended mitigation projects. The CSFS will also be a valuable
participant in addressing cross-boundary projects throughout the district.
Nearly all of the recommendations from this report affect private land or access roads to
private land. As such, their success will be largely dependent on the participation of
landowners. The CSFS and the Four Mile Fire Protection District are committed to
encouraging the participation of as many interested landowners as possible.
There are also recommendations for individual structures that are the responsibility of the
homeowner. However, they will need a point of contact, most likely a member of the
FMFPD, to help them implement these recommendations. The best defensible space will be
created with oversight and expert advice from fire department and or State personnel. One-
on-one dialog will continue to build the relationship with community members. This level of
involvement will also allow the agencies to keep track of the progress and update this plan to
reflect the latest modifications at the community level. The FMFPD web site is
http://bcn.boulder.co.us/emergency/fourmile/
This site has a great deal of information for citizens as well as a way to contact the district for
any and all local information.
The Collaborative Process
"The initial step in developing a CWPP should be formation of an operating
group with representation from local government, local fire authorities, and the
state agency responsible for forest management ... Once convened; members of
the core team should engage local representatives ... to begin sharing
perspectives, priorities, and other information relevant to the planning process.1
Seven state, county, local and private agencies participated with the Four Mile Fire
Protection District CWPP. These stakeholders include:
Four Mile Fire Protection District
1 Preparing a Community Wildfire Protection Plan - A Handbook for Wildland-Urban Interface
Communities, March 2004, p. 5
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Sugarloaf Fire Department
City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks
The Colorado State Forest Service
Boulder County Land Use Department
Southern Rockies Conservation Alliance
Anchor Point
The true collaborative process was initiated with a meeting on October 18th 2006. The initial
meeting intent was to bring all past, current and future efforts and needs to the table. The
primary focus of the group was on the identification and delineation of communities, areas of
concern and values at risk. Best practices and anticipated "roadblocks were identified. The
group was encouraged to utilize the fuels, slope and aspect maps in refining their areas of
concern and recommendations for fuels reduction projects. Sixteen communities were
delineated and analyzed for hazard and risk. Another meeting will be held on January 17th
for the communities within the district. In addition to these meetings, a comprehensive
survey was provided for fire department officers and to citizens via the web site, to better
glean values at risk and recommendations for the analysis.
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Funding CWPP Recommendations
There are many sources of funds for implementing the recommendations within the CWPP.
Some available grants and where to find more information is provided below.
Agency: Homeland Security, Office for Domestic Preparedness
Purpose: to assist local, State, regional, or national organizations in addressing fire prevention
and safety; the emphasis for these grants is the prevention of fire-related injuries to children.
More information: http://www.firegrantsupport.com/
Agency: Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
Purpose: to improve firefighting operations, purchase firefighting vehicles, equipment,
personal protective equipment, fund fire prevention programs, and establish wellness and
fitness programs.
More information: http://usfa.fema.gov/dhtml/inside-usfa/grants.cfm
Agency: National Volunteer Fire Council
Purpose: support volunteer fire departments
More information: http://www.nvfc.org/federalfunding.html
Agency: Community Facilities Grant Program
Purpose: help rural communities; funding is provided for fire stations
More information: www.rurdev.usda.gov/rhs/
Agency: Firehouse.com
Purpose: emergency services grants
More information: www.firehouse.com/funding/grants.html
Agency: Cooperative Forestry Assistance
Purpose: assist in the advancement of forest resources management; the control of insects and
diseases affecting trees and forests; the improvement and maintenance of fish and wildlife
habitat; and the planning and conduct of urban and community forestry programs
More information: www.usfa.fema.gov/dhtml/inside-usfa/cfda10664.html
Agency: Forest Service, Economic Action Programs
Purpose: Economic Action Programs that work with local communities to identify, develop,
and expand economic opportunities related to traditionally underutilized wood products and
to expand the utilization of wood removed through hazardous fuel reduction treatments.
More information: www.fireplan.gov/community_assist.cfm
Agency: FEMA
Purpose: Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program
More information: www.usfa.fema.gov/dhtml/inside-usfa/apply.cfm and
www.nvfc.org/federalfunding.html
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